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  “I’ve already spoke with Kurt. They know what is going on and want us to do our best to ignore it,” he said.

  This was something that was not likely to be ignored. But it also wasn’t really her place to push. “Coffee?” she asked.

  He nodded and she began making his grande cappuccino with two raw sugars. Her dad grinned widely when she handed it over.

  “I got to get back out there,” he said. “I just hope one of them does something illegal so I can arrest them.”

  With that said, her dad waved and left. Cecil laughed and went to start sweeping up. Sara began cleaning the espresso machine. They’d been right smack in the middle of the morning rush when the protesters lined up outside. Everyone had stood around in shock and just stared.

  Sara had walked outside with several of her customers while the first protesters launched into their chant. What had astonished her most were the young children that were holding up signs and repeating the words of hate their parents were yelling.

  That… It was just wrong.

  She was scrubbing the stainless steel steaming wand when the door opened again.

  Six young men walked in and took a look around. Unease traveled up her spine, and she darted a look over to Cecil. Her employee looked back at her, wide-eyed, and scurried back to stand by her.

  Cecil might be young, but he wasn’t stupid. He’d had a hard life already and Sara was overly protective of him. She shifted forward enough that she would be the focus of the strangers.

  One of the guys strolled toward the counter, staring at Cecil.

  “Hey, pretty boy,” he said. “What you selling?”

  Cecil shook his head and backed up.

  “Can I help you?” Sara asked curtly.

  The man’s gaze went to her. He looked her up and down before his lip lifted in disgust. “You the shifter slut?”

  “Excuse me?”

  He laughed, a nasty sound that grated her nerves and fit the horrible man.

  “You need to leave,” she stated and crossed her arms over her chest.

  He snorted. “You gonna make me? Or maybe the pretty boy behind you is?”

  Sara was almost shaking she was so pissed. “Yeah, yeah I am.” She’d started around the counter when another man stepped forward.

  “Come on, Rudy,” he said quietly. “Let’s get out of here. The sheriff might come back.”

  Rudy, the arrogant prick in front of her, frowned before looking over his shoulder at his friend. “You scared, Colt?”

  The other man, Colt, dropped his head and just shrugged.

  “Pussy,” Rudy spat out then turned back to Sara. “I’m here to give your boyfriend a message.”

  Sara didn’t react. Clint had said he had been followed so it shouldn’t shock her that these men knew about her relationship. But if they thought they could use her to get to Clint, they had another think coming.

  “Tell him that I’m coming for him. Gonna take him down like the animal he is.”

  Sara glared at his back as the men left her shop.

  * * * *

  Clint searched his phone for the number of the coffee shop just as he and Kurt walked into the alley. They’d left the compound by the hidden exit and carefully made their way to town.

  It appeared no one had spotted them and with the protesters drawing attention to themselves in town, Clint and Kurt did their best to remain unseen.

  He hit connect and waited for someone to pick up the phone.

  Sara answered with a friendly ‘hello’ and he felt immediately calmer. He had worried about how she was doing. The perfect morning had been soiled by the arrival of Dan Carter’s people.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he greeted her.

  Kurt smirked beside him, and Clint turned away.

  “Clint!” The relief in her tone was evident.

  “Come open the back door for us,” he requested.

  “You’re here?” she asked. “Is that safe?”

  He chuckled. “Well, it would be better if you would come open the door.”

  “Oh!”

  He shared a look with Kurt as they heard the lock being undone and the door opened. Sara stuck her head out with the phone still held up to her ear.

  “Hurry.” She motioned them inside.

  Once they were through, she slammed the door closed and locked the deadbolt. She threw her arms around his neck. “I was so worried about you! That man! He said he was going to get you and I—”

  “Hey! Hey! It’s okay.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. “What man? What are you talking about?”

  She shuddered and he pulled away enough to look down at her face.

  “These guys came into the shop earlier. They were…horrible—well, one guy, anyway—and he said to give my boyfriend a message,” she explained.

  Kurt stiffened beside them.

  “He said to tell you that he’s coming for you. Gonna take you down like the animal you are. Those were his exact words,” she finished.

  “Hey.” He caressed her cheek. “I’m okay.”

  She nodded then closed her eyes while leaning against him.

  “What else did they say?” Kurt asked. “What did they do?”

  They were still standing in the dark hall. Sara looked toward to the front.

  “I… I don’t want to leave Cecil alone. That man, he kept calling Cecil ‘pretty boy’, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at him.”

  Clint pressed his lips together. The time that Clint had been coming into the shop showed him that Cecil was a great kid. It was also obvious how Sara was protective of him. “Let’s sit out front and have some coffee and talk,” he suggested.

  “Out front? Are you sure? What if those men return?” Sara tugged where her hands were wrapped in his shirt.

  He kissed her forehead. “Trust me, baby. Come on.” He led the way down the hall and when he pushed the swinging door open to enter the front of the shop, Cecil looked up.

  “You okay?” he asked gently.

  Cecil’s head bobbed up and down.

  “Okay, let’s get a couple of coffees and sit.”

  Cecil rushed over to the counter and started lining up cups.

  Kurt moved to the closest table to the counter and sat in the chair that faced the front door. Clint sat beside him and angled his chair where he could cover the back. Sara sat next to him and he couldn’t help but run his eyes over her.

  “Hi,” he said.

  She smiled. “Hi.”

  Cecil cleared his throat and set the cups of coffee down. “Here you go.”

  Clint lifted his cup and took a drink. “Oh, man, I needed a cup of the good stuff.”

  Kurt grunted in agreement then turned toward Sara. “Tell us everything.”

  He listened as Sara told them what had happened from the moment that the six men had entered the shop until they’d left.

  He picked up on the two names that were provided. Rudy and Colt. Since Colt had already given them the names of the men he was hanging with, it matched everything they knew. So Colt and his group had arrived in town.

  “Kind of stupid to give us a warning,” Clint shared with Kurt.

  “Yeah,” Kurt concurred.

  “Stupid! They threatened you!” Sara cried.

  “Hey!” Clint grasped her hand and pulled her closer. She slid into his lap. “We know what we’re doing,” he assured her.

  “But—” she started to argue.

  “Sara…” He cupped her cheek. He hated to see the worry on her face. “This is what we do. We protect people. If they are after us, then we know everyone else is safe.”

  She rested her forehead against his. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “It won’t,” he promised.

  She sighed but nodded. “I trust you.”

  “You don’t seem surprised that these men came looking for you,” Cecil accused.

  “We’re not,” Kurt responded. “We’d already heard that
there were men headed this way. We’ve got it handled.”

  Cecil shook his head. “Hope so, man. That Rudy guy…” Cecil shuddered. “He gave me the creeps.”

  “Hey, kid,” Kurt said. “You just be careful. Watch your back and don’t go out at night alone. They aren’t after you but don’t take any chances. Don’t try to engage them for any reason.”

  Cecil smiled. “I’m no hero. I’m not going to draw attention to myself, trust me.”

  “Good.” Kurt reached for his wallet and pulled out a card. “That’s my number. You see anything that makes you uncomfortable, call me or Clint. One of us will be right there.”

  Cecil looked reassured and slipped the card into his back pocket. “Thanks.”

  “Same with you.” Clint kissed the tip of Sara’s nose. “They obviously know about us. I don’t want you to take any chances.”

  She shrugged. “I doubt they’ll try anything against the sheriff’s daughter.”

  He grasped her chin and made her meet his gaze. “I mean it, Sara.”

  “I promise I’ll be careful,” she offered.

  It wasn’t the assurance he wanted, but he decided not to push it for now. “Okay.”

  Kurt stood and motioned Cecil away from the table.

  Once they were alone, Clint dipped his head and placed a kiss against her lips. “Last night and this morning?” he started. “Those were some of the best moments I’ve ever shared with anyone. I want more of them. Which means you need to let me handle this and not get hurt.”

  “I understand,” she replied softly. “I want more too.”

  “I’ll let you know what’s going on. I’ll try to stop by tonight.”

  “Yeah?” She wiggled on his lap.

  His cock hardened. “Oh yeah,” he responded before kissing her deeply.

  She hummed and opened for him. He ran his hands down her face, around to caress her neck, before he dug his fingers into her shoulders.

  She moaned into his mouth.

  “Damn, honey,” he said when they broke apart. “We’ll have to pick this up later.”

  She looked up at him, her face flushed. “Later.”

  He stood but couldn’t resist one more kiss. “Call if you need anything,” he ordered then he squeezed her hand and followed Kurt back through the swinging door to the back.

  Kurt stayed silent as they made their way back out to the alley. Once out into the bright cool day, Clint pulled on his sunglasses.

  “Ready to hunt?” Kurt inquired.

  “Oh yeah,” Clint chuckled. “Let’s get this party started.

  * * * *

  Sara stepped out of the front door of her shop with Cecil and locked up.

  The protesters were still out on the street. Several of them were giving interviews to the reporters who stood with cameras and microphones.

  “Look around,” she said softly to Cecil. “You see our friends?”

  Cecil was quiet a minute before she heard his breath catch.

  “Yeah,” he murmured. “They are in front of Walker’s Second Hand Clothing.”

  Walker’s was the clothing store that most of the older residents shopped at. It was across the street and two doors down. She put her arm though Cecil’s and pulled him with her. They had to dodge through the protesters that were still gathered.

  “Don’t look at them. Don’t respond,” she told Cecil as some of the crowd started to yell.

  They reached the front of her cousin’s store and pushed Cecil toward the door. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that they were being followed.

  The men weren’t exactly hiding so she figured they didn’t care if they were spotted.

  The candle store that her cousin Linda owned was one of Sara’s favorite places. She loved the smell, but it was the homey feel of the place that made the store one of the most popular in town.

  Not only did Linda sell homemade candles, she also sold local art. The art was a combination of every imaginable way people expressed themselves. Sara had several pieces at her home.

  “Hey, cuz. Hey, Cecil,” Linda greeted as they stepped inside.

  Sara waved and pulled out her cell phone. Cecil headed to the register to start talking to Linda. Sara went to where she had programmed Clint’s number into her phone and pressed the call button.

  He picked up on the second ring.

  “We’re being followed,” she told him after he answered.

  “I know. I’m watching,” he replied.

  Of course he was—she should have figured that. But it did make her feel better that he was there.

  “Good job ducking into the store there. Are you safe inside?”

  “Yeah, it’s my cousin’s shop,” she explained.

  “Okay, good. Kurt and I both have eyes on our visitors. Once you leave there I want you to head to the sheriff’s office. We will stay right behind you. Don’t act like you know anything is going on.”

  She sighed and rubbed her forehead where she was starting to get a headache. “Okay.”

  “Kurt’s calling your dad,” he continued. “We’ll have him take you and Cecil home. Once you get there, lock your door and keep your phone close. I’ll call up to the compound and make sure one of our guys is watching the house. I don’t think they will follow you home, but we’ll be careful.”

  “All right.” She tried to take deep breaths and calm her pounding heart.

  “Nothing will happen to you. I promise.”

  “I’m taking Cecil home with me. He lives in an apartment right off Main Street, but I don’t want him alone,” she said.

  “Good idea,” Clint told her. “You two stay together. Go to the sheriff’s office and meet your dad. I’ll be watching, honey.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “Thanks, Clint.”

  “No problem. I’ll talk to you soon.” As he hung up, she felt ten times better.

  She joined her cousin and Cecil and they talked for a couple of minutes. She bought some candles so it looked like they had entered for a reason before she and Cecil headed toward the door.

  She explained to Cecil what the plan was and he grinned.

  “You sure my being there won’t ruin your”—he cleared his throat—“plans for the night?”

  She hip-checked him as they went outside. Cecil’s laughter made her feel lighter.

  They kept their heads close together and spoke quietly as they made their way to her dad’s office.

  “God, I wanna look so bad,” Cecil confessed.

  Sara giggled. “Me too.”

  It was hard to resist. She was so damn curious to see if the men were still there, if she could pick Clint out of the crowd.

  They made it into the sheriff’s office and when she stepped inside, she could see that it was packed.

  The deputies seemed harassed and had their hands full with several people yelling about their rights. Her dad stepped through the crowd and motioned them forward.

  She ducked between people and they rushed into his office.

  “Pieces of shit,” he muttered, slamming the door closed.

  Sara swallowed back her laugh. It took a lot to get her father to go off, but when he did it was always astounding.

  “We’ve wasted an entire day arresting these idiots for one petty crime or another. Did you know they knocked down old lady Carmen when she tried to chase them off her property with a broom?”

  “Damn it,” Sara cursed. Anna Carmen was the oldest resident in town at ninety-three years old. She was a spirited woman and Sara loved her. “Is she okay?”

  He grinned. “Takes more than that to keep her down. Boy, was she pissed, though.”

  Sara could only imagine. “I’ll call and check on her tonight.”

  He nodded. “Kurt called and updated me. Do you think you’ll be okay at home?”

  “Yeah, Clint was going to have someone watching the house.”

  He looked surprised then nodded. “He’s a good guy. Really good guy,” he said.

  Sara smiled. �
��Yeah,” she agreed.

  “Well…” He cleared his throat. “Let’s get you two home, then.”

  They followed him out of his office, through the side door and into his truck. They stayed quiet during the drive. Her dad darted looks to the rearview mirror every few seconds.

  He pulled up in front of the house. “Stay in here while I check everything out,” he ordered.

  “But, Dad…” she started to argue but one look and she closed her mouth. She knew that look.

  He climbed out of the truck, slammed the door, then walked up the porch to the front door then used the spare key he carried to enter.

  He was only gone about five minutes or so, but it seemed much longer. Her hand was on the door handle just in case.

  She relaxed when he came back out onto the porch and waved at them.

  Both Sara and Cecil climbed out of the truck so they could hurry inside.

  “Lock the door,” her dad ordered.

  “Yes, Dad.”

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Love you. Keep your phone with you at all times.”

  “Love you too,” she told him.

  Once he had started down the steps, she closed and bolted the door.

  She turned around to Cecil, who was standing in the hall. “Movies and popcorn?”

  Cecil grinned. “I pick the first one!”

  Chapter Eight

  The six men split up after Sara had left the sheriff’s office with her dad. Clint expected at least one group to follow her, but while he followed three men around town, Kurt called him and informed him that the other group was hanging around the woods by the compound.

  Clint’s group contained their contact Colt and two other young men. They walked behind the protesters, hung around the park and basically didn’t do a whole hell of a lot.

  He had called Sara and checked in with her. All was fine there. The Alphas had had no problem sending one of the guards to watch her place, so that made him feel better.

  But he was bored.

  Not that he was looking forward to any trouble, but he wished they would get on with whatever the plan was. He would much rather spend his time getting to know Sara than stalking a bunch of humans.

  He was leaning back against one of the alley walls, keeping his eye on the men, when he saw Tony and Austin walking around in the park.